Man accused of trying to bribe witness

Tribune illustration

Tribune illustration

Naomi NixTribune reporter

A Lincolnwood man who is facing charges of illegally diverting gas and power to his pet food company was hit with more charges of trying to bribe a witness in the case, Cook County prosecutors said Saturday.

Joel Sher, 56, allegedly offered $5,000 to a witness in exchange for changing testimony in a case from 2010 where he is accused of ordering his company employees to divert nearly $2 million worth gas and power lines to his store.

At the time, prosecutors alleged that Sher ordered employees to use jackhammers to dig through concrete and asphalt and divert gas lines, as part of an elaborate system in which gas flow was diverted before it ever reached the meter.

The Sher family, whose Evanger’s Dog & Cat Food Co. store in Wheeling was once featured on the Rachael Ray food show, also allegedly diverted electricity by tapping into main power lines on poles outside their plant, according to court papers.

The loss to Nicor Gas was estimated at $1.4 million, while ComEd lost an estimated $328,000 in energy services, officials said.

In 2010, Cook County prosecutors charged Sher, of the 6500 block of North Navajo Avenue, with felony theft and money laundering. His wife, Holly Sher, was charged with the same crimes.

That case is still pending, according to court records.

Joel Sher now faces three new criminal charges, including subornation of perjury, bribery and communicating with a witness, who was not identified in Cook County bond court Saturday.

Sher’s defense attorney declined to comment after the hearing. Sher, who was held in leiu of a $75,000 bond, is scheduled to appear in court on Wednesday.